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snapa · Sat Mar 04, 2006 11:50 pm

It's basically going to be used for surfing the web, music, movies, word processing. Debating whether I should go with a straight up A64 or the X2 as the proc is a tac overkill. But they want to be able to keep it for a good 2-3 years.

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wi ... Petes+comp

What do you guys think?

Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:05 am

I think that:

- You don't need an SLI board.
- If it's for surfing, you should go with a Sempron. Upgrade path is overrated for cheap computers.
- You don't need an X550. Get a motherboard with integrated video.
- ... much less an Antec Truepower 480W. Get the cheapest *branded* PSU you can find.
- 1GB of RAM is more than enough.

No monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers?

Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:05 am

PS - Topic moved to SBA.

mattsteg · Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:10 am

snapa wrote:
What do you guys think?

Pretty much anything you can buy or build with current parts would do the job easily.

Sun Mar 05, 2006 2:08 am

Again, what's the budget? For $500 you can just tell them to forget "2-3 years. Of course, if they are going to use the same software for that period then that's ok.

Sun Mar 05, 2006 3:04 am

The power supply included with that case is a bit weak, so you've got a separate power supply on your wishlist. Why not start with a case with a decent power supply?
save $21

The planned use for this PC doesn't sound like it needs SLI. Why not start with a less expensive motherboard and video solution?
save $84½

Do you have a floppy drive?
add $26½

snapa · Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:03 pm

Well I would want to build this so an upgrade to Vista would be possible

snapa · Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:05 pm

Flying Fox wrote:
Again, what's the budget? For $500 you can just tell them to forget "2-3 years. Of course, if they are going to use the same software for that period then that's ok.

800ish

computron9000 · Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:33 pm

the problem in your config is that X2.

Ditch the $300 X2, get a better case and a quiet power supply ($26 for case + PSU??? For a $300 processor? No way.)). Get a motherboard with onboard video and lose the add-in card (unless they have a reason for it... I guess it might be nice for Vista).

For example, instead of $389 on an X2 3800+ and an add-in video card with a junk case and PSU:

-Get a motherboard around the same price with onboard video $0 - Or the $55 add-in card you spec'd
-Get a Seasonic S-12 380 watt PSU (very quiet) $75
-Antec Solution Black Steel case $49
-AMD 64 3700+ San Diego 1MB cache $213

Total cost: $337 or $392 w/ add-in video
(versus $389 for your X2 config)

Or:

--Get your $55 add-in video card
-Antec Sonata Lifestyle w/ 450 watt $92
-AMD 64 3700+ San Diego 1MB cache $213

Cost: $360 vs $389

I particularly like the 2nd option there with the Sonata Lifestyle case. The PSU is over the top, but it's of decent quality and comes with the case, which IMHO is pretty nice.

Then you dont' have to use a crap case and psu, you'll have the same performance for what a web browser / surfer / email checker will do, and you'll have a quiet PSU.

Also, I don't think you need an SLI board (as was commented above).

Coran Fixx · Sun Mar 05, 2006 3:32 pm

What morphine said. Get Sempron and integrated graphics.

SNM · Sun Mar 05, 2006 4:07 pm

snapa wrote:
It's basically going to be used for surfing the web, music, movies, word processing. Debating whether I should go with a straight up A64 or the X2 as the proc is a tac overkill. But they want to be able to keep it for a good 2-3 years.

Do they have a computer right now? If so, how old is it and what OS/programs do they use?

Just to clear this up, since there are plenty of people out there still running Win98 on their only computer. I mean, if it's really just for websurfing and such I'd buy an eMachine and stick in some extra memory. Not nearly as cool, but small and *very* cheap.

Saeghwin · Sun Mar 05, 2006 4:22 pm

How do I do the public wish list thing?

Sun Mar 05, 2006 5:43 pm

SNM wrote:
I mean, if it's really just for websurfing and such I'd buy an eMachine and stick in some extra memory. Not nearly as cool, but small and *very* cheap.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... id=4532523

snapa · Sun Mar 05, 2006 5:54 pm

JustAnEngineer wrote:
SNM wrote:
I mean, if it's really just for websurfing and such I'd buy an eMachine and stick in some extra memory. Not nearly as cool, but small and *very* cheap.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... id=4532523

I suggested he just buy a dell...but he was pretty set on letting me build it

Sun Mar 05, 2006 6:30 pm

snapa wrote:
JustAnEngineer wrote:
SNM wrote:
I mean, if it's really just for websurfing and such I'd buy an eMachine and stick in some extra memory. Not nearly as cool, but small and *very* cheap.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... id=4532523
I suggested he just buy a dell...but he was pretty set on letting me build it

Sounds like a trap. Remember you will have to support it since you built it. I hope it's not.

LicketySplit · Sun Mar 05, 2006 6:35 pm

That HP that JAE put up is a pretty good deal. More than enough to suit their needs for a year or two. If you dont need the monitor you can find a better deal than that on one.

Sun Mar 05, 2006 6:36 pm

Flying Fox wrote:
Sounds like a trap. Remember you will have to support it since you built it. I hope it's not.

Aye. However, with all the B.S. that Dell and HP normally put people through, he'd end up supporting it anyway.

Sun Mar 05, 2006 6:39 pm

What I am afraid of is the hidden message behind "2-3 years". It's the dad wanting a new machine, but will it be used by the children? And do they play games? Judging from the initial builds I got this feeling that it's more for the kids and they do play a game or two.

But I don't know.

Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:46 pm

LicketySplit wrote:
If you dont need the monitor you can find a better deal than that on one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6883102654

snapa · Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:34 pm

Flying Fox wrote:
What I am afraid of is the hidden message behind "2-3 years". It's the dad wanting a new machine, but will it be used by the children? And do they play games? Judging from the initial builds I got this feeling that it's more for the kids and they do play a game or two.

But I don't know.

No trap..no hidden message...its just what he told me...I've known the famiily since U-12 soccer...as he was my coach...at first...i was building in mind that they MAY want to play games...but thinking about it...its unneccesary as their kids play on consoles more than anything

The dad is fronting the money...and its basically for the mother and son to use as the dad already has a laptop

derFunkenstein · Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:35 pm

snapa wrote:
Well I would want to build this so an upgrade to Vista would be possible

The GMA 950 is built for accerlating the Glass GUI of Vista, let alone all this overkill.

Besides, you can get something with the 6150 chipset or the Radeon Xpress 200 chipset and you'll have a single PCI-E card you can use later for a cheap card if it's really *that* bad.

Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:14 pm

In that case, drop the dual core, get 1 gig RAM, use integrated DX9 grahics and tell them to treat you dinner or something for the savings.

snapa · Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:32 pm

Flying Fox wrote:
In that case, drop the dual core, get 1 gig RAM, use integrated DX9 grahics and tell them to treat you dinner or something for the savings.

sounds like a plan

Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:44 pm

Since dropping the dual core will create quite a bit of savings, here are additional some suggestions (since you can't pocket the difference anyway, so may be you can get them to improve some other attributes of the system), some of which have been suggested by computron9000:
- better looking case (either a Sonata without PSU or the SLK3000B is nice), with good sound insulation
- Seasonic PSU (disclaimer: I own the S12-430 model), it may be tempting to go completely passive, but those passive PSUs tend to whine a bit
- CPU HSF: a quiet Zalman or XP90+Panaflo, I have found that with a quiet HDD, a quiet PSU, the only thing left is the CPU fan. My stock 3200+ fan can get quite loud under full load, although if they are not going to push the computer too much then CnQ should take care of business (definitely a concern if you are going to borg that machine for team 2630)
- CPU: a 3500+ may give a bit extra omph at a not-so-expensive price, but honestly I don't think they will notice the difference if you go 3200+.

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